Toy aerial swing



cfI.. KERN.

TOY AERIAL SWING. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1919. I l379,57'5 Patented' MMM, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- MII C. J. KERN.

TOY AERIAL SWING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, I9I9. LST/9.5%. Patented; May 24, im.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NETE@ STATES PATIENT CHARLES J'. KERN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO NEVI ERA TOY MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, INC., OF CHERRY CREEK, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

Application led 'April 24, 1919.

b all whom t may concer/a.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KERN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo. in the county of Erie and State of vNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in rll`oy Aerial Swings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a toy, and more particularly to a toy aerial swing.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a toy ofthis character, which can be foldedwithin a compact space so that it can be easily stored when not in use, or when not on display.

A further object of my invention is the production of va toy of this kind in which j the swinging boxes or cars, as they may be termed, are removable from their supporting arms, but in which all other parts of the'toy remain in connected condition but are foldable or contractible so as to occupy a comparatively small space.

Another-obj ect of my invention is the provision of a folding toy of this kind in which the suspended or swinging boxes or cars may be arranged within or around certain elements of the device when folded, in such a manner that the entire space occupied by the device is no greater than would be occupied without the boxes or cars.

Further objects are the provision ofnovel 'Y means for connecting the various parts of the toy, the provision of novel means for driving or operating the same, and the provision of a folding base, one part of which carries the driving element of the toy.

IVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

lIn the drawings .Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved toy showing the parts thereof unfolded or extended ready for operation.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the device.

Fign is a side elevation of the device in folded condition, with the swinging boxes or cars arranged within or around folded parts.

Fig.4 is a vertical section taken on line M4, Fig. 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921,

Serial No. 292,268.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device in folded condition, with the boxes or cars removed therefrom.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, like numerals refer to like parts in theseveral figures.

The reference numeral 6 designates a base, 7 a rotatable upright or mast stepped into the base and to the upper end of which a head or disk 8 is secured. Radiating from said head or disk are supporting arms 9, six in number being shown on the drawings and spalced equi-distantly around the head or dis r.

The base is substantially cross shaped in formation and comprises a longitudinal member 10 having two parts 11, 12 hinged together, as at 13, and a cross member 14 joined to said longitudinal member in any approved manner and extending equal distances from opposite sides thereof. In the construction of the base I employ what is generally known as a half check joint; that is, the part l2 of the longitudinal member and the cross member 14 are notched so that the thickness of each of 'these parts at the notch is one-half that of the parts at any other point, and the reduced portion of each part fits into the notch of the other part so that a iush upper surface is provided where the two parts of the base cross each other. At this half checkvjoint a bearing block 15 is arranged, which covers the joint and strengthens the base at this point. Arranged within this bearing block is a step bearing 16 into which a trunnion 17 extending from the lower end of the rotatable upright or mast is journaled. i

Surrounding` the rotatable upright a distance beneath the head or disk 8 is a block 18, and extending from this block to the outer ends of the cross member 14 and also to the outer or, what may be termed, rear end of the longitudinal member are braces 19. These braces serve to hold the rotatable upright in vertical position, and the block 18 also serves as a bearing for said upright. rIhe base 6, block 18 and braces 19 constitute what may be termed the frame of the device.

I preferably secure the head or disk 8 to the upper end of the rotatable upright or mast by means of a screw 20 passing axially through said head or disk and taking into said u right. The head or disk is notched arounc its marginal portion, as at 21, to receive the inner ends of the arms 9, suitable eyes 22 being fastened into the peripheral face of said head or disk at opposite sides of each notch, and fastened into cach arm so as to project from opposite sides thereof is a pivot pin 23 which ris passed through the eyes at opposite sides of the notch in which the inner end of said arm is fitted. While this isthe preferred construction, I wish it to be' understood that vithin the broader scope of my invention, any other manner of pivoting the arms 9 to the head may be resorted'to, but the ar-l rangement herein shown and particularly described, is exceedingly simple, very cheap and easily constructed. l

ith the pivot of the arms or sweeps close to the inner extremities of the same, these arms tend to swing downwardly on their pivots and therefore when extended or arranged in horizontal position, some provision must be made to retain them in such position. For this purpose I preferably employ turn buttons 24 which are fastened to the upper face of the head or disk 8 by meansv of screws 25, one end of each turn button being adapted to be moved over one of the notches 21 in said head or disk so that when the arms 9 are swung upwardly into horizontal position, the turn buttons may beeiigaged lwith the upper edges of said arms at their innerends to hold them se-` curely in position. When it is desired to swing the arms downwardly into the positions shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the turn buttons 24 are turned von the screws which fasten them in place, until they are moved out of line with the notches in said head or disk, whereupon the arms 6 drop intor lowered position.

26 designates boxes or, what may be termed Vaerial cars which Aarel suspended from the outer ends of the arms 9`and into. which small dolls may be seated to give the device a realistic appearance. Each box or car is positioned in a plane between two arms, and is suspended from the two arms, and for this purpose each box has cords or chains 27 extending` upwardly from eachY end, which cords or chains are detachably fastened. to the arms 9 in any approved manner. Preferably, each arm'has hooks 2S extending from opposite sides thereof near its outer end, andthe chains or cords are suspended from these hooks.

Pivotally secured to Aone of the parts of Vthe longitudinal member 10 lof the base, shown v.in the drawing as part 12, is a re-ltainer member 29 which is pivotally 'secured tothe part 12 by a screw 30, one end of said retainer member extending over the inner or pivoted end of the part 11 of said longitudinal member so as to prevent said part 11 swinging upwardly on the part l2. This retainer member therefore serves to keep the two parts 11, 12 of said longitudinal member in-alinement and converts the longitudinal member 10into what may be termed a rigid unitary structure.

This toy will be painted to make thesame attractive and in order to avoid scratching of the paint at the jointed portion of the longitudinal member, I fasten to the two partsl of said member at opposite sides of the oint, metal staplesy 3l, against which the pivoted retainer member 29 is adapted to contact. In this manner said retainer member is prevented from v'rubbing in contact with the painted. .upper surface' of the base.

Fastened to the outer end of the part 11 of said longitudinal member aretwo brackets 32 between which a chain orcable sheave 33 islOCated, said sheave having suitable journals 34- for which said brackets serve as bearings,and to one of said journals a crank arm 35 is secured, said crank arm having a handle 36by means of which the chain or cable sheave or driving member, as it may be termed, may be rotated.

Secured to the rotatable upright or mast near its lower end is a'chainor cable sheave 37 and around the same andV thelsheave'V or driving member 33, a chain or other flexible driving element-38 is passed so that when rotating said driving element, the upright or mast of the deviceis caused to rotate, carrying with it the arms9 and the boxes orcars 26 suspendedvfrom said arms. During rotation, these boxes or cars are caused to travel a circular path and are moved, outwardly by centrifugal force, depending on the speedat whichthe upright or mast is rotated.

'Iofurther stifl'en the frame work'of the constrnctioma metallic band 39 is arranged on the base so that it overlies the two members of the same at, four sides of .the bearing block 15. In this manner the two parts of the base are stiffenedY against relative movement in a horizontal plane and wabbling of the braces 19 is also prevented. Said metallic band' 39 is preferably formed of1 wire and secured to the base at fourV points by mea-ns Vof staples/10'. i This band also serves as a support for some ofthe boxes or cars when the device is folded, as will be explained hereinafter.

`While I have referred to the suspending chains of the boxes or cars in a general way only,l I preferl to employ two lengths of chains at each end of aboxor car, the lower ends -of said two lengths being fastened to the car in any suitable manner near opposite sides thereof and the upper Vends'bein'g connected together by means of an eye 4l so that the c'hainsconverge upwardlyand arep connected together 'bysaid eye', The eyes L1 serve as means-*which will permit 1,379,575 v .ia

the ready attachment of the upper ends of the chains to the hooks 28 extending from opposite sides of the arms 9. Y

rThe device with its parts in operative or unfolded position appears as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and when it is desired to fold the same, the boxes or cars are removed by unhooking the eyes 41 of the chains attached to the cars from the hooks 28 of the arms. rl`he pivoted retainer member 29 is then turned on its pivot so as to position the same as shown in Fig. 5, after which the part 11 of the longitudinal base member may be swung upwardly intothe position shown in Figs. 3 and 5. rihis will cause the chain or flexible driving element 38 to become disengaged from the sheave 37 on the rotatable mast, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The turn buttons 24 are then rotated, which permits the arms 9 to swing downwardly to the positions shown in Figs. 3 to 5. The main structure of the device is then completely folded. rlhe six boxes or cars may now be arranged around or between different parts of the device While in folded position. This is done by arranging two boxes in rear of the braces 19 attached to the cross member 14, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said boxes being supported on the portions of the metallic band 39 extending from the braced end of the longitudinal member 10 of the base to the cross member 14, with two arms 9 resting against said boxes, as'indicated at 42, Fig. 3. Said two boxes are preferably set on end. In the space between the braces extending upwardly from the cross member and the outer pivoted part 11 of the longitudinal member 3, three boxes or cars are positioned, two of said boxes being supported on their sides and resting upon the remaining portion of said metallic band; that is to say, that portion of the band extending forwardly or toward the pivoted part of the longitudinal base member, and the third box or car being arranged upon one of the two last-mentioned boxes or cars. rlhe sixth or last box or car is arranged in practically inverted position over the upper end of two of the sweeps or arms, as shown in Fig. 3, with one side of the box receiving support from the upper or outer end of the pivoted part 11 of the longitudinal base member. Therefore. when the device is folded and the boxes or cars are arranged within or around the certain parts of the device, it has the appearance shown in Fig. With the boxes so arranged, the device occupies no more Hoor space than would be required if the main structure of the device were folded and no boxes or cars were used. rlhe advantages of this device are therefore quite apparent, particularly since in a toy of this kind, considerable floor space will be required when it is in use, and when folded it occupies only a fraction of the space required when the pagts are extended or unfolded.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A device of the kind described, comprising a foldable base, a vertical mast having its lower end journaled in said base, means for supporting said mast at a point spaced from said base, a driving element mounted on the foldable part of said base, transmission means between said driving element and said mast, arms extending outwardly at the upper end of said mast, and aerial elements suspended from said arms.

2. In a device of the kind described, a. rotatable vertical member, a disk at the upper end olf said vertical member having peripheral notches therein, arms pivoted to said disk and having their inner ends within said notches, and turn buttons on said disk engaging the upper .edges of said arms at their inner ends to hold said arms in extended and horizontal position, said arms or sweeps being adapted to swing downwardly when said turn buttons are disengaged therefrom.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a base having a longitudinal member formed of two parts hinged together and a cross member connected to said longitudinal member and extending'from opposite sides thereof, a mast having its lower end journaled in said base at one part of said longitudinal member, a driving element secured to the other part of said longitudinal member, flexible transmission mechanism between said driving element and said mast, arms extending outwardly from the upper end of said mast, boxes suspended from said arms, and means for preventing one part of said longitudinal member from swinging on the other part thereof.

4. An aerial swing including a rotatable mast, a base on which said mast is mounted, said base including hinged part, a driving element on said hinged part, a transmission element between said driving element and said mast, and means for holding said hinged part in line with the other part of said base.

5. An aerial swing including a base and a rotatable member mounted on said base, said base including two hinged parts on one of which said member is supported, a sheavc journaled on the other part of said base, a` sheave on said rotatable member, a flexible driving element passing around said sheaves, and means to retain the hinged parts of said base in alinement.

6. ln an aerial swing, a base comprising two parts, a mast journaled at its lower end in one of said parts, a bearing near the upper end of said mast, arms extending outwardly from the upper end of said mast,

aerial elements suspended from said arms, a driving element mounted on one part of said base, driving mechanisml between said driving element and said mast, and means permitting the part of said base having said driving element thereon to be swung upwardly and inwardly toward said mast.

7. In a device of the kind described, a base havingtwo parts hinged together, metallic contact elements on the two parts of said base at opposite sides oi" thehinged connection thereof, a pivoted retainer secured to one of said parts and adapted to bear against said metallic Contact elements to keep the ytwo parts of said base in alinement, a rotatable structure mounted on one part of said base, a driving element mounted on the other part of said base, and a ieXible transmission element between said driving element and said rotatable structure, the whole being arranged to permit one part of said base to swing on the other part thereof. o f Y Y,

SJ'In a device of the kind described, a frame having a foldable base, a mast rotatable within said frame, arms extending outwardly romthe upper end of said mast in horizontal positions, and box-like elements suspended from the outer ends of said arms and detachably` connected thereto, said arms or sweeps being pivotally con nected to the upper end of said mast so as to permit the same to swing downwardly and said box-like elements being adapted to be positioned between parts of said device when folded. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.'

'CHARLES J..KERN. 

